LA Galaxy vs San Jose Earthquakes

Dignity Health Sports Park forms the backdrop for LA Galaxy’s must-win Major League Soccer encounter against San Jose Earthquakes. 

Nailed to the foot of the Western Conference standings, LA Galaxy headed into this midweek round as the only MLS side yet to taste victory this season (D4, L11). With only four points from 15 matches, they already seem like a lost cause, and anything other than a fifth consecutive win over San Jose would likely render their season a write-off. Greg Vanney’s side remarkably scored 3+ goals in all four previous H2H victories, suggesting this could be just what the doctor ordered for Galaxy’s return to form. If there’s any silver lining, it’s the fact they’ve avoided defeat in two of their last three home league outings (L1), including a late 2-2 draw against bitter rivals Los Angeles FC. 

Meanwhile, three consecutive league draws have derailed San Jose’s bid to break into the Western Conference’s top seven, but they’ve at least been exciting to watch. Indeed, two of those three stalemates featured an identical 3-3 final score, underscoring the potential for a goal-glutted contest at Dignity Health Sports Park. However, the Quakes trail 7th-placed Colorado Rapids by three points, making a first away league victory over Galaxy since July 2022 imperative. They’ve since lost both H2Hs in Carson via a combined score of 6-4, which hardly bodes well for their effort to defy a lackluster away league record this season (W2, D1, L3).